Day 119: January 31, 2026 – Zephaniah 1-3, Psalm 11 and Proverbs 11

I would like to highlight Proverbs 11 which walks a fine line between correct theology and the heresy called the prosperity Gospel. There is a clear path, Proverbs tells us, to follow the will of God. I do believe strongly that when we are miserly and only care about our finances, then we will always be wanting of finances, they become the most important thing. When we obey the Lord and tithe, give 10% of our income, then God is faithful and just and will provide so that we will not be in want. I can only write that which I have experienced, and I have experienced the latter. Our whole life we have never made much, even less growing up as a child, and yet God has provided and we have never, ever worried about finances in our life.

The prosperity Gospel is something different. It tells you, wrongly, that God wants His followers to be wealthy. No, that is not the case, in fact Jesus says that it is harder for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to inherit the kingdom of heaven. Why is that? Because the most heinous deed against God is having a false god and riches can easily become the most important thing in our life, or a false god. We only focused on Proverbs because it does reflect the way in which I think about the resources that are gifted to us: “Some give freely, yet grow all the richer; others withhold what is due, and only suffer want. A generous person will be enriched, and one who gives water will get water.” Something to remember.